By DOUG SCHMITZ Iowa Correspondent DES MOINES, Iowa — In the wake of recent confirmations of low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) in Missouri and Texas, newly appointed Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig highlighted ongoing biosecurity efforts by his state’s turkey, egg and broiler farmers, and preparations undertaken on state and federal levels against the deadly bird flu. “The low-path avian influenza cases in Missouri and Texas highlight again the risks facing our poultry producers,” said Naig. “We have seen poultry farms investing in biosecurity improvements in recent years to protect their birds and keep them healthy. That is their focus all year long, but as we enter the spring migration season it is important they remain diligent in their biosecurity efforts.” On March 6, veterinary officials reported a presumptive LPAI H7N1 outbreak at a commercial turkey farm near Joplin, Mo., according to a notification from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Officials said the virus was detected during routine pre-slaughter tests on Feb. 26 for H5 and H7 viruses, and no signs of clinical illness or increase in turkey deaths were reported at the farm. A March 6 statement by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy said the farm housed 20,000 birds, which would be depopulated through controlled marketing – a strategy that allows poultry that are infected with or exposed to LPAI H5 and H7 viruses to move to market on a limited basis, according to state response plans. Officials said Missouri’s bird flu outbreak marks the first detection of LPAI H7 in the United States this year. In early 2017, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee reported outbreaks of LPAI H7N9 in poultry, which isn’t related to the H7N9 virus circulating in China. The outbreak in Texas was detected during pre-slaughter testing in a broiler breeder flock in Hopkins County, according to a March 9 OIE notification. The flock had exhibited a slight increase in mortality and a drop in egg production, and depopulation of the 24,091 birds at the farm had begun, officials said. According to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), LPAI virus strains occur naturally in wild migratory waterfowl and shorebirds without causing illness, and can occur in domestic poultry with little or no signs of illness. However, there is the potential for low-pathogenic viruses to develop into highly-pathogenic (HPAI) viruses, which are extremely infectious, often fatal to domestic poultry and can spread rapidly from flock to flock. As a result, it is important to monitor and respond to both LPAI and HPAI detections, IDALS stated. Currently, Iowa turkey, egg and broiler farmers have updated their biosecurity measures and made significant investments to help prevent the disease from getting on their farms. “They focus every day on biosecurity in recognition of the potential that avian influenza and other diseases are always a risk,” IDALS said in a March 16 statement. “All poultry farms need to have a biosecurity plan to qualify for USDA indemnification.” Moreover, Iowa’s egg, turkey and broiler companies have implemented company-wide biosecurity plans, with Iowa State University’s Center for Food Security and Public Health and the College of Veterinary Medicine producing numerous materials to also help farmers update their biosecurity measures. IDALS said it is recommended all livestock premises that have one or more animals have an official premises identification number. The agency is in the process of contacting farmers who have previously registered a livestock premises in an effort to update the Iowa Premises Registration database. Farmers are asked to respond to the letter and either confirm the information is correct or respond with their updated information. IDALS continues efforts to update response plans for potential animal disease emergencies. As part of those efforts, it hired an emergency management veterinarian for Iowa. IDALS received an additional $100,000 from the Iowa legislature to support preparations for a foreign animal disease outbreak and a portion of that funding is being used for this position. This new position supports its efforts to ensure emergency response plans are up-to-date, organize disease response exercises and work with industry partners. The Iowa response to avian influenza operates under a Unified Command involving IDALS and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). “We also work closely with partners in the poultry industry as well as other state agencies, including the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Iowa Department of Public Health and Iowa Department of Natural Resources,” the statement read. Kyle Shipman, DVM, Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) director of avian health and field operations, explained BOAH is taking the following measures to prepare and prevent a potential avian health event in the state of Indiana: •Continuing to monitor the detection and response to avian influenza in other states •Engaging with industry partners to ensure situational awareness •Collaborating with commercial producers to develop site-specific biosecurity plans that are harmonized with the National Poultry Improvement Plan •Working with the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Purdue University to ensure rapid laboratory testing and the reporting of results •Continuing to reach out to small flock producers to encourage disease reporting, increased biosecurity and premises registration For more information, visit the APHIS Avian Influenza site at www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian-influenza-disease |
